Automotive mileage reminder of the dial type



June 2, 1942. L. ILLMER 2,234,903

AUTOMOTIVE MILEAGE REMINDER 0F was 1am. TYPE Filed June 17, 194a INVENTOR.

Patented June 2, 1942 r AUTOMOTIVE MILEAGE REMINDER OF THE DIAL TYPE Louis Illmer, Cortland, Y.

Application June 17, 1940, Serial No. 340,913

' 4 Claims. (01, 40-40) v This invention pertains to a handy accessory for automobile and truckdrivers undertaking distance tours along unfamiliar routes, and is more especially directed to a compact register of the rotary dial type provided with a series of numerals intended to be hand set en route in advance of the prevailing recorded trip meter or mileage totalizer reading, said device being set in accordance with the distance stipulated on a scrutinized cross road sign or the like highway instructions whereby at a glance to keep clearly in mind the measured travel distance that is still to be driven prior to reaching a desired destination or the making of a contemplated turn at a particular road intersection.

When the metered mileage reaches the set reading of my commitment device, the point of destination will have been definitely fixed without uncertainty in orientation or vexation'on part of the motorist, particularly when driving at night. Such reminder is preferably sustained by the steering wheel or its post within line of vision and convenient reach of the-driver. Because of its conspicuous script space, my car adjunct may also be effectively utilized as an advertising novelty or as a premium article for sales promotion projects.

The object ofmy improvements is to devise an inherently simple mechanism of the indicated character of which all components may be economically fabricated at a minimized factory cost so. as to be profitably sold in volume through mail order houses, chain stores and the like large scale distributors, also to be handled as an advertising novelty or by premium houses. h

Further embodied herein are certainunderlying structural aspects designed to achieve the end in View, all of which will hereinafter be more explicitly set forth. Reference is had to the accompanying one sheet of drawings that are illustrative of a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which drawings:

Fig.1 shows a face view of a small sized mileage recorder equipped with twin rotary dials respectively having digits thereon, and Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view taken along 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 depicts a sectional view taken flatwise along 3-3 of Fig. 2, while Fig. 4 shows a bottom or reverse face view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental detail taken along 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 represents an upturned face View of a reminder that is bracketed to a steering post, and Fig.,7 a similar view as attached to a steering wheel.

Fig. 8 shows an edge view of the Fig. 7 assembly. e

Referring in further detail to such disclosures, this grippable, pocket sized device may comprise a cup-shaped casing preferably stamped from relatively thin sheet metal to include a flat crown plate ll] of which the stepped medial region ll may be laterally depressed. Theplate center is apertured to rotatably mount therethrough a tubular rivet or the like centralized pivot l2. The crown plate perimeter may be circumscribed by a drawn endless rim flange [4. The face of, such crown plate portion may bepierced by a sight hole or window slot l5 whereby to effect cooperative registration of my twin disc numerals. Disposed fiatwise behind the plate l0 and affixed to the pivot I2, is an'inner dial I6 whichis preferably stamped from sheet metal, cardboard, plastic or the like laminate material. Adjacent to the perimetric region of the last named dial face, there may be impressed or raised a series of numerals designated I! preferably laid out into duplicate sets of scaled digits having a common cipher therebetween as in Fig. 3.

Concentric with said inner dial plate and lying in a substantiallyv common plane therewith, is an annular companion dial I8 of like sheet material whose one side face may also be provided with embossed or impressed numerals such as l9. Both the inner and annular dial plates are purposely designed to be readily sheared out of a common piece of .thin strip stock by gang stamping dies without sheet wastage. The plain sheared inner edge of said annular dial is loosely centered about and kept independently rotatable with respect to the circumscribed dial l6 by the cleared transverse edge or part line 2| that surrounds the cup axis X--X. Both such dials are retained against lateral displacement without the need of tongue and groove or equivalent overlapping means. The 'outer dial [8 may have affixed thereto a looped wire lip extension or the like finger shift means 20 that may reach radially beyond the rim flange l4 (see Fig. 4).

The center region of the inner dial l6 may be cross-sectionally chambered at 24 into an apertured conical shape having the hollow shank of the tubular rivet I2 expanded and fixedly united thereto. The recess 24 is laterally reversed from the casing offset and mounted therein is an' interposed thrust spring 25. This spring imparts a limited frictional drag to the dial l 6 and thereby maintains its selected mileage setting against road jars or other inadvertent displacement.

The stepped crown plate region H is intended to lie flush with the exposed face of the circumscribing dial I8. Said inner dial is overhangingly mounted upon such stepped plate portion to leave an arcuate clearance pocket 26 thereunder which obviates abrasive wiping or efiacement by wear of the dial numerals l1 and I9. If desired, such numerals may also be imprinted on separate Celluloid, paper or the like scales 2B and 29 and cemented to the forward face of their respective dial carriers as cross-sectionally indicated by Fig. 5.

As regards the pivotal mounting of the annular dial l8, this is preferably centered edgewise within the bore of the rim l4 and resiliently upheld in spaced relation to the crown plate Ill by a corrugated guide or the like seated filler ring 30 adapted to frictionally retain the annular disc in any set position. As an alternative, the stamped corner region of said plate may be perimetrically inset to perform a similar guide function. In order to retain the disc H8 in place against tension of said guide spring, a plurality of opposed rim cleats such as 3i may be stamped in the flange I4 and loosely crimped inwardly over the dial perimeter in the Fig. 4 manner, the prongs being kept sufliciently short to avoid interference with the inclined shank of the lip 20. Said cleats and the laterally spaced filler ring 30 conjointly constitute an internal groove for the rim flange l4 into which such centered annular dial may be rotatably guided. An appended knurled stem 32 may be entered into and affixed to the rotatable rivet l2 to independently actuate the inner disc I6.

As shown, the digits for each of my dials may be duplicated in reversed sets of indices to allow of either right hand or left hand manipulation. A stop lug 33 may be used to limit rotation of the lip loop 20 in either direction. Corresponding limit means may be afforded for the inner disc by its semicircular slot 34 which may cooperate with a stop screw 35. The stepped plate region may then be tapped at both slot extremities and said screw interchanged for a reversed disc rotation to accommodate right handed or left handed operators. For short run reminders, only one of the twin dials may be needed with one set of numerals carried beyond the digit 9.

The'mode of application of my device will it is believed, be evident from its structural definition. The described exempliflcation may either be carried in a drivers pocket or be suspended on a nearby panel hook. Having reached a highway sign revealing the distance to an intermediate destination, the driver accordingly sets a particular mileage numeral under the sight hole in advance of the prevailing last two significant numerals appearing on the car meter reading. Such relatively short set distance when overtaken by the meter, unconfusedly denotes arrival in the vicinity where a proper road turn or other route transition should be made. The present instrumentality is primarily designed to ease the drivers mind during longer tours and allow him to concentrate on careful car operation with the assurance that certain material road instructions are not likely to be neglected. In the absence of a trip meter, my commitment device may also be utilized to identify the starting mileage appearing on the totalizer dial.

Turning now to Fig. 6, this discloses a mileage reminder in which the casing rim M has attached thereto a clamping bracket adapted to grip the steering post 38.

A suitable style of mounting bracket may comprise reversed complementary U-shaped sections such as 39 and 40 which may be riveted at 4| in their abutting yoke regions. Mated sectional leg ends such as 42 may be riveted to the rim flange of my casing while corresponding opposed leg ends may be flanged as at 43 to grip a bracket cap member 44 that clampingly embraces the steering post. A laminated bushing 45 may be interposed to permit a given clamp to universally fit different post diameters. My reminder requires but a few moments to operatively apply the same to any standard passenger car or truck. The upturned flat front face of my casing may be provided with script such as 46, thus making for a conspicuous advertising display.

Figs. 7 and 8 represent a modified sectionalized bracket 41 by which to similarly attach my casing rim to a steering wheel arm 48 or the like. It will be obvious that the eXteriorly knurled stem 32 is to be kept within convenient reach of the driver. Also that the distinctively manipulated loop lip 20 plainly identifies a desired setting of the numerals I9.

It is thought the foregoing disclosure will make apparent to those skilled in this art the inherent advantages afforded by my compact reminder device, it being understood that the frictional drag expedients may be eliminated or effected by equivalent means, also that various other structural changes in the illustrative embodiments may be resorted to, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. An automotive mileage reminder comprising a casing crown plate provided with a sight hole and the central region of which plate is laterally stepped with respect to its marginal region, a manipulative annular dial mounted to rotate axially in spaced flatwise relation to said marginal plate region to provide for an arcuate clearance pocket therebetween, and a resilient guide ring surrounding said pocket in an interposed relation to the dial and the marginal plate region, said dial having a series of indices on one side face thereof arranged to successively register behind said sight hole and which indices when registered are respectively visible through said guide ring.

2. An automotive mileage reminder comprising a cup-shaped casing provided with a rim flange and with crown plate means of which the marginal region has a sight hole therethrough, a pair of concentrically disposed and independently manipulative dials pivotally mounted flatwise in non-overlapping edge to edge relation with respect to the plate means and which outer dial is rotatably centered within the rim flange, said dials respectively having a series of indices on corresponding side faces thereof that are normally masked behind the plate means and arranged to be selectively shifted into visible registry with said sight hole, guide ring means interposed between said outer dial and the marginal region of the crown plate, and means retaining the respective dials against lateral separation from the plate means.

3. An interchangeable automotive mileage re-' minder comprising plate means of which the marginal region has a sight hole therethrough, a pair of concentrically disposed and independently manipulative dials that are pivotally mounted flatwise upon the plate means in non-overlappingedge to edge relation and which dials are laterally retained with respect to the plate means,

said dials respectively having duplicated sets of reversed indices in opposed semicircular formation on corresponding faces thereof for right hand and left hand manipulation, and stop means serving to confinedly mask one set of such indices behind the plate means and allowing its mated set of indices to be selectively shifted into successive visible registry with said sight hole.

4. An automotive mileage reminder comprising I a cup-shaped casing including a crown plate 10 having a sight hole therethrough and which plate is circumscribed 'by an internally grooved rim flange, a manipulative annular dial plate of which the outer perimeter is rotatably guided within the rim flange groove in a laterally spaced relation to the crown plate, and which groove constitutes the sole guidance for said dial, said dial having a series of indices on one side face that normally remain masked behind the crown plate and are arranged to be selectively shifted into visible registry with said sight hole, and a companion dial pivotally mounted flatwise within the inner confines of said annular dial plate.

, LOUIS ILLMER. 

